Universal joint



Feb. 8, 1938. J. E; PADGETT UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Nov. 25, 1951l 2 sheets-sheet 1 5&1

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- UNIVERSAL JOINT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1931 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL JOINT Joseph E. Padgett, Toledo, Ohio Application November 23, 1931, Serial No. 576,665

1 Claim.

An object of the present invention is to provide ply of lubricant, and are provided with lubricant chambers adapted to replenish the lubricant content of the bearings.

Another object of this invention is to provide a universal joint of the type having. self-lubricating means thereinand embodying a'novel form of sealing means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a universal joint of the type having a journal portion extending into the opening of a cooperating part, wherein the journal portion cooperates with a thrust element associated with a closure for said opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for making kuniversal joints, whereby a journal carrying member is accurately positioned with respect to the axis of a bearing carrying member, and at the same time proper clearance between the moving parts isobtained.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein Fig. l is an elevational view showing a unition. l g

Fig.2 is a similarelevational view of the device, but showing the same partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig.. 1.

Fig. 4. is an end elevational view of one of the yoke members of my universal joint. f

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view partly in section, showing another universal joInt constructed versal joint constructed according to my inven- Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantiallyl on line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another form of thrust element, and

Fig. 10-is another fragmentary sectional view showing still another form of thrust element.

For a more detailed description rof my invention reference will now be made to the accomi panying drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred forms of my improved universal joint. Although the drawings illustrate specific formsv of construction, it should be understood that my invention may 'be embodied in various other structural arrangements. y f

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, my improved universal joint comprises, in general, a pair of yoke members I0 and II and a cross I2, operatively connecting the yoke mem-l bers together. As is well known, the useful life of a device of this kind is largely dependent upon an adequate supply of lubricant being provided for the moving parts. In accordance with my invention, as will be explained in detail hereinafter, I have provided novel means whereby the cooperting moving parts are efliciently lubricated, and their useful life materially prolonged beyond the period of usage heretofore attained by oilless bearing or by periodic manual lubrication.

The yoke members I0 and II are, generally speaking, similar as to construction and arrangement, each being provided with a pair. of arms I3 and I 4, which are spaced apart and provided with axially aligned openings I5 extending therethrough. These yoke members may be provided with any suitable connecting means for cooperation with the shafts, or other parts with which the device is to be used. In this instance, the yoke` I0 is shown as being provided with a circular flange I6 adapted to be attached to a part from which power is to be transmitted, and the yoke member II is shown as being provided with a sleeve I'I, which is splined for cooperation with the splined end of a torsion transmitting shaft I8, such as the propeller shaft of a motor vehicle.

The cross I2 `may comprise a body portion 20,

having any suitable shape or form, such as the ring-shape shown in Fig. 3, and integral arms 2l extending radially outwardly from the body and terminating in journal portions 22, the latter being in the form of cylindrical pins. The arm portions of the cross are four in number, and are paired in diametrically opposed relation, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This. member Is so constructed and arranged, that when in assembled position the journal portions 22 of one pair oialigned arms extend into the openings I5 of the yoke member I0, while the journal portions of thev other pair of aligned arms extend into the openings of the yoke member I I. As shown in the drawings, each arm of the cross is' provided with abutment means, preferably inthe form of the laterally extending lugs 23 disposed at the inner end of the journal portions. 'Ihe function of this abutment means will be explained hereinafter.

My universal joint, as thus far described, does not dier materially from joints of this general type which have been available heretofore, but in accordance with my invention a novel arrangement is provided, wherein the journal portions'of the .cross are self-lubricating, and are enclosed within the arm portions of the yokes in such a manner as to prevent the escape of lubricant and the entry of foreign material. As is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 oi' the drawings. the openings I5, provided in the arm portions of the yokes, are of over-size diameter as compared with the diameter of the journal portions 22, extending thereinto. The openings I5 are made of over-size diameter principally for the purpose of facilitating the assembly of the cross in the yoke members, in accordance with the novel method of my invention -hereinafter to be explained, and also to accommodate a bearing 25, and a closure member 26, the latter being preferably in the form of a cup-shaped cap. The bearing 25' is of tubular or bushing form, and while various materials or compositions may be used for this element, I prefer to employ a bearing which is of a sufiiciently porous character to absorb and hold a relatively large quantity of lubricant. A suitable bearing of this kind may be formed by molding or extruding a mass composed of bronze, or other metal particles, mixed with graphite or the like.

cant is available for lubricating the surfaces ofl the journal portions. '.This bearing is mounted in the sleeve portion 21 of the closure member 26,

which is, in turn, mounted in 'the opening I5 of the yoke arm, so. that both the bearing 25 and the sleeve portion 21 surround the journal portion 22 of the cross. With the member 26 disposed vin vthe opening I5, in this manner, the transversely extending bottom wall 29, of this member, forms a closure for the opening of the yoke arm at a point outwardly of the outer end of the journal portion 22, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In a device of this kind it `is important that the cross be accurately positioned with respect to the axes of rotation of the yoke members, so as' to minimize unbalanced centrifugal forces,

'which tend to cause undesirable vibration. Ac-

cordingly, I have provided a thrust element, preferably in the form of the ball 29, in each of the yoke arms, for positioning the cross with respect tol the axes of rotation of the yokes. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, each thrust ball is disposed between the transverse wall 29, of one of the closure members 26, and the outer end of the journal portion extending into that closure member. withinv the openings of the yoke arms in deinite relation to the axis of the yoke, and are retainedv in thisposition by any suitable means,

such as the expansible retaining rings 30, which are snapped into annular retaininggrooves 2|,

The closure members are positioned provided adjacent the outer ends of the openings in the yoke arms. K

It is desirable, in an arrangement ofthis kind, to have all vof the parts of the device located as close as possible to the axis of rotation, and accordingly the outer ends of the journal portions are provided with counterbored recesses 32, in which the thrust balls 29 are disposed. In the arrangement as thus far described, it will be seenthat the bearings 25 will cooperate eiiiciently with the journal portions 22 extending therein, and at the same time the thrust balls 29 cooperate with the closure members 26 to accurately position the cross with respect to the axis of rotation of the device. v

The bearings 25 are capable of giving eiicient service during ordinary usage by reason of their self-lubricating characteristic, but according to my invention the useful life of the device isv materially prolonged by providing additional lubriconsists in the provision of a lubricant chamber 33 in each of the journal portions of the cross. This lubricant chamber may be of any suitable shape or form, but is preferably simply an opening extending through the journal portion and closed at its ends by the bearing member 25. Before the cross and yoke members are assembled, this kchamber lis charged with a suitable lubricant, which, after assembly of the parts, is supplied to the cooperating surfaces of the journal portions and bearing members during the operation of the device. To provide forthe delivery of some of the lubricant from the chamber 33 to the thrust ball 29, I lprovide a passage 3l, which connects the lubricant chamber with the counterbored recess 32, 'and which is normally closed bythe thrust ball 29. It will be seen from the Aarrangement described, that the supply of lubricant contained in lthe journal portions provides for the eiiicient lubrication of the thrust balls 29, and, in addition, supplements the lu-l bricating material incorporated in the, bearings 25, in providing adequate lubrication for the cooperating moving parts. j

Asl explained above, the transverse wall of the member 26 constitutes a closure means for the opening of the yoke arm, which closure means is located outwardly of the outer end of the journal portion extending into the yoke arm. This closure means prevents thev lubricant from being thrown outwardly of the device by cen-- cating means. vThis, additional lubricating means this purpose, I prefer to employ a novel and efficient form of sealing device which I have devised. This device comprises a cup-shaped metal shell 36 and a ring offcork or other yielding material 91, which is 'disposed in the metal shell.-

extends. The wall portion 38 is provided around its outer edge with an angularly disposed retaining and protecting flange 39, which extends in the axial direction of the journal portion 22 and .7o and through which the journal portion 22 snugly? surrounds the sealing ring 31. The flange 39 is made suiciently` long to extend beyond the sealing ring '31 and to telescope over the inner end of the sleeve portion 21. If desired the inner end of this sleeve portion may be made of reduced diameter, as by providing the same with the tapered portion 31', and when the metal shell 3S is in assembled position, as-shown in the drawings, the flange 39 telescopes around this reduced portion, so as to overlie the point of engagement of the sleeve portion and the bearing member with the sealing ring 31.

It will be seen, from the arrangement described,vthat when the cross is assembled in the yoke members with 'the journal portions extending into the closure members 26, the packing rings of the sealing members will be pressed against the inner ends of the closure members and of the bearings 25 by the abutment members 23 acting against the transverse wall 39 of the metal shell. The flange 39 being extended into telescopic relation around the inner end of the sleeve portion 21, causes water or other foreign a substance to be shed or deected away from the sealing ring 31. 'Ihus the closure members 2B,

together with the sealing members 31, provide an enclosure for the journal portions 22whereby the supply of lubricant is conserved and retained within the device, and grit and other foreign material is excluded.

In obtaining the accurate positioning of the cross with respect to the axes of the yoke members referred to above, I employ a novel method for assembling these members. In accordance with my method, the aligned journal portions of the cross arerst inserted into the aligned openings of the arms of theyoke members. This can be readily done since, as explainedv above, the openings i 5 are of over-size diameter as compared with the diameter of the journal portions, and by tilting the cross the journal portions can be easily inserted in succession in their respective openings. The insertion of the journal portions into the over-size openings of the yoke members can be facilitated to some extent by notching out one or both of the arm portions of the yoke members, as indicatedat in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. After the journal portions of the cross have been `inserted into the over-size openings of the yoke members, the cupshaped closure members 25 are pressed into the openings of the yoke members, with the thrust balls 29 interposed between the ends of the jourbearing members 25 -may be assembledaround the journal portions prior to. the insertion of the closure members 2,6, but areV preferably pressed into the closure members by a previous operation, 'so that as the closure members are pressed into the openings of the yoke members, the bearing members willtelescope over the journal portions and will be accurately positioned upon the same. 'During the operation ofpressing the closure members 26 into the openings of the yoke members, the thrust balls. 29 are subjected to compression, whereby these balls are slightly depressed into the metal of the transverse walls 29, substantially in the manner that the ball element is depressed into the surface 0f a test piece in making a Brinell hardness test.` Afterthe closure members 25 have been pressed into the arms Aof the yoke members a A vpredetermined distance `to thereby slightly Briinherent resilience of the metal and the strains produced in the various parts which have been subjected to the compressive force, the release of the pressure results in a slight clearance being established between the thrust ball a`nd the transverse wall 29 and between thethrust ball and the end of the journal portion 22, which clearance permits eilcient lubrication of 4these parts but prevents any material displacement of the cross with respect to the axis of rotation of the device.

In assembling the cross members 2B into the openings of the yoke members, any suitable apparatus may be employed, but I prefer to use aflxture so designed that pressure can be simultaneously applied to the closure members located at opposite ends of a yoke member, and such that the exerted pressure will be cqualized between the two closure members during the operation. After the closure members have been pressed into the openings of the yoke members, and while the compressive force is being maintained the retaining rings 30 are snapped into place to prevent displacement of the closure members. The subsequent release of the compressive force results in the desired clearance being established between the moving parts.

In Figs.v 5 to 8 of the drawings I have shown universal joints of the ring type, which embody the novel construction of my invention, and which may be assembled according to my method. 'I'he joint illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises yoke mem-bers 42 and'43 each having a pair of oppositely extending journal portions 44 which project into bearing portions 45 of the ring 48.

The ring and bearing'portions are formed as an integral part, the bearing portions being provided with oversize openings into which the 'journal portions are inserted at assembly of the device. To facilitate the insertion of the journal portions into the oversize openings of the bearing portions, the latter may be suitably cut away as indicated at 41. Inthis arrangement, as in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the journal portion is provided with a lubricant chamber 49, land is'sur'- rounded by a bearing member 49. Likewise, as in Fig. 2. I provide a closure cup 50, which is retained in the opening of a bearing portion of the ring. as by means of the snap ring 5I, and a sealing device 52, which cooperates with the inner end of the closure cup 50. A thrust element, preferably in the form of the ball 53. is disposed between the journal portion and the transverse wall of the closure cup.

In Figs. 7 and `8. I have shown a universal joint, which is in all respects identical with' the joint illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. with the exception that the ring 54 is formed of complemental members 55 and 56 secured together as by means of bolts 51. In this arrangement the members 55 and 56 areformed with integral shoulder portions 59 which provide a retaining means for the closure cups 59 when the members are clamped together at assembly of the device.

I prefer to use athrust elementin the form of aball, as referred to above, but if desired, various other forms of thrust elements may be employed. l

For example, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, a thrust element 6| ofA button-like form may be provided intermediate the transverse wall 92, of the closure member 53, and the outer end of the journal portion 64. This button-like element, and the bearing member 65 which surrounds the journal portion, may be formed ofv any suitable material, but are preferably made of lubricant absorbing material, such as the bearing material referred to above. In this arrangement, the journal portion is provided with a recess 65 in its outer end, in which the thrust button is disposed, i-and with a lubricant chamber 61 for replenishing the lubricant content oi ythe bearing 65 and of the thrust button.v The closure member 3 is assembled into the opening of the yoke member 68 by being pressed into the latter, substantially in the manner of. my method described above. The pressure applied during the assembling operaton is suicient to cause the thrust button to be distorted somewhat by being compressed between the closure member and the journal portion, but this pressure is insuicient to cause permanent distortion of the transverse wall of the closure member. While the assembling pressure is being applied, a retaining member S9, preferabiy in the form of an imperforate disk or plate is xed in an annular groove 10, provided adjacent the outer end of the opening or" the yoke member, by displacing a portion of the taining member 69 in place, the assembling pres.

,63 has been pressed into the yoke member for the desired distance, and the annular locking shoulder 1| has 'been formed for holding the reportion 16. During the assembling operation, in

accordance with the method of my invention, `a closure member 11 is pressed into .the opening of the yoke member 18, so as to surround the bearing member 19 which cooperates with the journal portion. During this assembling operation, preslill .moved into the opening of the yoke member the desired extent, and also causes the transverse wall 8| to engage the thrust button 15 and to be deflected by the latter into the opening of 'the ring 80, substantially as shown in Fig. 10 or" the drawings. `While this assembling pressure is being maintained; some of the metal of the yoke member isd'isplaced, as by a suitable rolling orswaging operation, to provide the annular` locking shoulder 82 which holds'the retaining ring 80 in place. The assembling pressure is then released whereby the desiredl clearance is established between the thrust element and the deflected portion of the transverse .wall 8|.

Although the closure members '2E and 50 of the universal-Joint shown'in'Figs. i and 5, are

preferably retained in 'place 'by the snap rings 30 and 5|, these members may be retained in place, if desired, by means of a disk or ring, as

shown in Figs. 9 and 1o, in which case the diskv y or ring, as explained above, is held against displacement by swaging an annular shoulder onthe yoke portion during the assembling operation.'

scribed, that I have provided a novel device of this kind which' is self-lubricating, and v,which is y capable of eiicient service throughout a prolonged period o'f use. It will also beseen, that by the novel arrangement which I have provided, the supply of lubricant is conserved by. being emcientiy sealed Within the device, and thefentry of destructive foreign matter is prevented.

In addition to an initial supply of lubricant contained in the bearings ci the device, a replenishing supplyof lubricant, provided in the chambers located in the journal portions, enablesy the device to render prolonged efcient service without attention on the part of the machine operator. tion, and in the novel method of procedure which I have devised, the use of thrust elements at the ends of the journal portions increases the elliciency of the device, and enables the cross or yoke members, as the case may be, to be accurately positioned with respect to the axis of rotation Without the need for the extremely accurate and costly machining heretoforerequired in devices of this kind. Obviously this accurate positioning ten-:is to minimize unbalanced centrifugal forces and consequent vibrations.

While I have illustrated anddescribed the device and method of my invention in a detailed manner, it should be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact steps of procedure nor to the precise details of construction and arrangements of parts as herein disclosed, but regard my invention as including such r.

changes and modications as do not involve a departure from the spirit ofr the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of relatively movable members one having an opening therein and the other having a journal portion extending into said opening, means for closing said opening outwardly of said journal portion, an apertured retaining` member disposed in said opening outwardly o f said closing means toprevent displacement of the latter, said closing means having a portion thereof deflected into the aperture of said retaining member,.and a thrust element associated-with said journal portion and engaging the deflected portion of said closing means.

JOSEPH E. PADGEI'I.

Furthermore, in my novel construc- 

